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Urgent international action required as human rights defenders and the media are targeted by the Ortega government.

UPDATE 12/15/18 – Overnight the Confidencial office has been occupied by police, apparently on a permanent basis, preventing any further work taking place there. El País has the story (in Spanish) as does The Guardian.

UPDATE 12/14/18 – As predicted below, Ortega’s enforcers have been swift. Earlier today the offices of Confidencial were raided by police and computers and other equipment and effects were seized without warning or warrant. This leaves Pedro X. Molina without a publisher and, as the free speech NGOs that would normally defend him and his colleagues have been rendered illegal, with no place to turn for help. Things can only escalate from here. Instead of a new cartoon he’s shared this photo of his desk.

Photo provided by Pedro X. Molina, 12/14/18

CRNI is alarmed by the most recent reports forthcoming from our current Courage In Editorial Cartooning laureate, Pedro X. Molina of Nicaragua.

Conscientious citizens won’t have failed to observe the deteriorating societal conditions under President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. As citizens took to the streets to protest, in Molina’s own words, “several years of electoral frauds, selective repression, attempts to censor the internet, mismanagement of environmental disasters and the enactment of a social security law that curtails the rights of current and future pensioners” the Nicaraguan government embarked upon increasingly severe counter measures. Several hundred have died in the ensuing year of violence.

Molina’s beautifully rendered expressions of outrage and scabrous caricatures of Ortega and Murillo have in many ways formed the outward, international face of the #SOSNICARAGUA movement. During the month of October, when illustrators and cartoonists everywhere post daily sketches to social media under the #Inktober hashtag, Pedro was adding tender portraits of men, women and children who have disappeared or perished during the ongoing unrest.

From November onward Pedro has been sending us updates on a marked upswing in confiscations of equipment, cyber attacks, unlawful and brutal arrests and serious assaults by paramilitaries aimed at independent journalists, broadcasters and media workers, all reaching a crescendo in the last week or so. At the same time members of the Ortega/Murillo family were fêted at an art event sponsored by UNICEF and PAHO/WHO. The inherent hypocrisy has left a bitter taste in the mouths of those desperate for international condemnation of the regime.

Even more worryingly, human rights NGOs seem to have been added to the scope of the crackdown. On December 10th, World Human Rights Day, the CENIDH organisation was denied permission to demonstrate. Shortly thereafter the organisation’s legal status was revoked entirely. Five more NGOs were similarly declared illegal in twenty-four hours including CINCO, founded by the director of the Confidencial news platform that is the regular publisher of Pedro’s work.

This would all appear to be a prelude to more concerted action against human rights defenders in Nicaragua and as such represents an even greater threat to all citizens. CRNI is wholly satisfied that Pedro Molina is in imminent danger, along with his colleagues in the media across the country. We urge all international bodies to condemn the recent actions of the Nicaraguan government in the strongest terms and where possible intervene on behalf of the populace.

Further reading: Earlier this year Pedrowrote an essay for ussummarising the process by which Nicaragua arrived at this crisis and describing the vital function satirical humour plays in the popular resistance.

On a world-wide day of celebration of the defence of human rights we present a new initiative on behalf of cartoonists everywhere.

One of the most significant tasks for CRNI over the past year was our role within the planning committee for the Cartooning Global Forum (États Généraux du Dessin de Presse), not a new organisation but rather a new opportunity for cartoonists, the bodies that represent them and affiliated stakeholders from the press and media as well as those working to protect freedom of expression to share knowledge and experience and identify areas of common interest where we can work collectively.

Using three of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals — Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions, Reduced Inequalities and Quality of Education — as a framework of discussion, human rights were at the heart of the event from its inception. Today, as the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is celebrated, our colleagues in Paris have released a brochure summarising the inaugural forum that took place at UNESCO on October 3rd. You may download a pdf copy below.

We hope that in addition to providing a useful record of the first chapter in this story it will attract even greater levels of participation in the next forum. Significant dates between now and then include:

May 3rd 2019: communication of recommendations, marking World Press Freedom Day

October 2nd 2019: CGF/EGDP 2019, Paris (venue tbc)

And while looking both back and forward, let us extend the compliments of the festive season to all cartoonists, their families and friends around the world. We hope a happier, safer, freer New Year awaits us all

#UDHR70 #humanrightsday #standup4humanrights

An Algerian cartoonist continues to be stymied by short-notice, unexplained cancellations and unanswered questions in the city of Oran.

Earlier this year we reported about the last-minute cancellation of an international cartoon festival in Oran that the organiser contended was due to sabotage by others working in the same field.

Now, in an open letter to Algerian Minister for the Interior Noureddine Bedoui published in Le Matin, cartoonist Nour El Yakine Ferhaoui levels further accusations of incompetence at the authorities responsible for cultural provision in the city and asks why he is being ignored by those who previously expressed willingness to work with him.

Specifically, Ferhaoui describes being tasked with the renovation, cultural programme and communications for a municipal exhibition space in Oran last August. He contacted local artists and organised a season of events and exhibitions, notifying the press of dates to come in the final quarter of this year. He says his ideas and initiatives were well-received after “a decade of paralysis”.

But now that goodwill has evaporated and Ferhaoui is being ignored, even by the people who appointed him to the role in the first place. He accuses those responsible for cultural provision in the city of allowing “Oran, this western city of light to become a capital of mediocrity and a nest of unhealthy officials for whom culture is a system of massive destruction.”

Ferhaoui says that since the cancellation of the Oran cartoon festival he is effectively persona non grata in Algeria, and so whether intentional or nor those who sought to forestall the event have effectively ended his career. This would seem to be borne out by the sudden collapse of his subsequent projects with local contemporary artists. The reasons why remain unknown. We sincerely hope that he receives answers soon.

CRNI is a proud member of the IFEX network of organisations working in defence of freedom of expression.

On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists we join with them in calling for the equitable treatment of all press and media workers who seek to speak truth to power and moreover guarantees for their safety and justice for those who have suffered at the hands of extremist groups and authoritarian regimes. IFEX Executive Director Annie Game has written an op ed about the latest such cases, not least of which the late Jamal Khashoggi.

We pay tribute to the cartoonists who have died for their work such as Akram Raslan in Syria or the victims at the Charlie Hebdo massacre in France. We recall the sacrifices of those who have been to prison for having the temerity to criticise the state, just as Atena Farghedani did in Iran and Ramón Nsé Esono Ebalé in Equatorial Guinea.

And we remember the cartoonists who are currently working in highly dangerous situations such as Pedro X Molina in Nicaragua or Mohammad Saba’aneh in Palestine as well as those who have had their careers effectively ended, like Musa Kart in Turkey, now retired as he faces a prison sentence.

Lastly we think about the many cartoonists who endure constant threats and harassment online, often hand in hand with misogynist attacks. Kanika Mishra, Majda Shaheen, Doaa Eladl and many other female cartoonists have to persist despite a level of abuse most of their male counterparts cannot imagine.

Please join in November 2nd and post a message as part of the #NoImpunity campaign.

The inaugural États Généraux du Dessin de Presse / Cartooning Global Forum took place at UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris on October 3rd.

A new initiative to bring the world’s cartoonists and the organisations that support them together for a focused day of work each year, the first meeting took place under the gracious auspices of the Délégation Permanente de la France aupres de l’UNESCO and His Excellency M. Laurent Stefanini.

Discussion was broken into two roundtables, taking “Cartooning as Tool for Peace and Justice” and “Pedagogy, Field Actions & Education Policies” as the themes, drawn from the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2030. Mr. Anderson moderated the morning discussion, saying in his opening remarks:

“We’ve heard much in recent years about cartoonists as ‘canaries in the coal mine’ and how our problems are early indicators of a wider, insidious and worsening chilling of freedom of expression. I’ve used the metaphor myself in the past but increasingly I dislike it as it implies a degree of fragility and dispensability. We are not victims or victims in waiting. We are essential to the health of press and media and therefore crucial to democracy.”

Among the participants were delegates from IFEX, of which we are a member, as well as our partner organisations the PCO and Africartoons and friends from CartonClub, United Sketches, Index on Censorship, CPJ and many others. Free to travel intentionally once again, our past Courage in Cartooning Award winner Zunar was also present. In total some two dozen nations had representation in the forum.

Recommendations from the first États Généraux du Dessin de Presse will be refined in the coming months and published ahead of World Press Freedom Day, May 3rd 2019 and the next meeting will take in Paris the following October.

CRNI are very pleased to be part of this ongoing conversation and look forward to an even larger, broader forum next year.

Thanks to The Surreal McCoy of PCO for this picture of Terry and Zunar.

CRNI’s Courage In Editorial Award Winner for 2018 Pedro X Molina receives his prize this weekend at the concluding gala of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists’ convention.

He writes exclusively for our website about the situation facing the citizens of Nicaragua and the context in which his cartoons represent an act of resistance.

“I’d like to thank Cartoonists Rights Network International and all the people assisting the organization in their incredible work supporting cartoonists in trouble around the world and for presenting me with this year’s award, which I dedicate to the heroic people of Nicaragua resisting the brutal dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo.

“Cartooning is a trade that has been around for centuries. Right now some people seem to think – wrongly, in my opinion – that it is something that belongs to the past or is in the process of extinction. This is ‘fake news’. The misconception is due to the fact that the vehicle of circulation for cartoons has traditionally been the printed newspaper. When its media model entered a crisis due to the internet, cartooning seemed doomed to go down with it. Because of less printed circulation, less ads, less money for newspapers generally, short-sighted publishers seeking to avoid upsetting readers and trying to cut costs went after cartoonists as a convenient saving. A stupid move when you consider that many readers are loyal to their newspaper especially for the cartoons.

“So it’s very ironic that despite the many reasons to be depressed about the profession’s prospects so many of my colleagues feel more optimistic than never before. The reason? In a world where people are constantly bombarded with information yet don’t have much time to keep up cartooning can provide news, analysis and entertainment all in less than a couple of seconds! They can go viral and spark debate very quickly. People can now follow their favorites cartoonists directly. In many respects this should be a new golden age of cartooning! The only missing puzzle piece is how to get paid accordingly.

“To Nicaragua. Despite its proximity to the USA I’m sure many out there that don’t have a clue about exactly what is happening in my country. This video provides a good summary:

“Therefore, in the context of this crisis, satirical humour and cartooning plays a very important role:

it is an instrument of denunciation, to help make public all the injustices that are being committed

it is an instrument of analysis, helping people understand the meaning of each event that occurs

it is an instrument of criticism, helping us judge whether such action is futile, harmful or progressive

it is an instrument of emotional connection with the people, as powerful cartoons contain not just wit and sarcasm but an outpouring of grief and outrage in the face of atrocity

it is an energizing, liberating instrument, putting dictators and brutes in their place, lifting our spirits, giving us hope and companionship and strengthening our determination to continue fighting for a better, free, fair and democratic country.

A representative selection of Molina’s cartoons follows:

Molina cartoon globe

Molina cartoon magazine covers

Molina cartoon propaganda

Molina cartoon the hunt

Molina cartoon priorities

Molina cartoon death squad

Molina cartoon blockcade

Molina cartoon orteguism

Molina cartoon guernicaragua

Molina cartoon vandals

Molina cartoon big mouth

“The output of cartoonists, YouTubers, bloggers and all who use humor to process what we are experiencing has become a daily necessity for the Nicaraguan population. Humor injects us with life in the midst of so much death. Whether in the form of professional cartoons, videos and articles or spontaneous Tweets and memes humor is our engine, a place to put angry energy to use and our spoonful of sugar in a bitter reality.

“Every day journalists and commentators get messages threatening us with jail, especially a trip to El Chipote, the most ‘popular’ site of torture of the government. Other times they paint the front of the houses with the word PLOMO, ‘lead’ in English, a word that in our local culture is a death threat.

“It is very important to we Nicaraguans that the world knows that we’re not engaged in civil war. There aren’t two armed groups facing each other. This is a massacre enacted by an armed state upon an unarmed people.

“Why should North Americans care what is happening to the south? Well, because that’s the decent human thing to do, first and last. But if that’s not enough, consider this: Ortega is a bad seed. Other Central and South American governments have been tempted to lean toward this dictatorial style of government before. And they’re now watching this Ortega guy, located a couple of hours’ flight from Washington DC, not just stealing but killing people at large without any consequences whatsoever.

“A few weeks ago Ortega expelled the UN commission from Nicaragua. The same day in Guatemala President Jimmy Morales went on national television in front of a bunch of generals to say he will also kick out the UN CICIG from Guatemala. At the last OAS meeting Guatemala, Honduras and EL Salvador all abstained from condemnation of Ortega’s government. If the US and the rest of the world keep ignoring this situation instead of seeing it as an opportunity to set an example a very serious and widespread crisis could result. And naturally that will result in an even more serious immigration problem, something we’re led to believe the current American administration wants to avoid at all costs.

“My colleagues and friends elsewhere can help. I would encourage all US citizens to contact their representatives and make them pay attention to Nicaragua’s problem. The US have already done a few very effective things. They have canceled US visas for many government personnel and have applied the Magnitsky law – a form of economic sanction – to some high profile Ortega supporters. But it’s not enough. I find it particularly disgusting that ordinary Nicaraguans running for their lives can’t get a US visa while government-linked families can get in without any problem. The use of the Magnitsky law should be expanded to more people; not just Ortega’s family but senior figures in the military and police as well as businessmen closest to him. Continued coverage, campaigning and the efforts of NGOs to put more pressure on Ortega’s dictatorship could also be very helpful.

“After 11 years without a single interview granted to any domestic journalist Ortega has started a series of international interviews to peddle his lies, commencing with Fox News. He thinks he can benefit from Trump’s obvious sympathy with dictators. In just a couple of days Daniel Ortega will be in the US, no doubt trying to get in touch with him. Please don’t let him get his way. No-one will benefit from these two Putin fans comparing notes.”